The Federal Government has ordered a detailed investigation into a major discrepancy in electricity distribution along the Ikorodu–Sagamu industrial corridor, where as much as 100 megawatts of power reportedly remains unaccounted for.
The suspected losses have been valued at approximately N120 billion over a one-year period, raising concerns about electricity theft, metering irregularities and revenue leakages within Nigeria’s power sector.
Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe directed relevant agencies and industry stakeholders to investigate the situation during a meeting with industrial operators, electricity market participants and regulators in Lagos.
The probe was prompted by monitoring carried out by the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), which detected unusual electricity loading and consumption patterns along the 132kV corridor.
Tegbe said the government needed to establish precisely where the missing electricity was going and determine whether the discrepancies resulted from technical problems, operational issues, metering failures or deliberate interference.
“We must know where the power is going and what is compromising it,” the minister said, stressing that the investigation must be transparent and based on verifiable technical evidence.
The minister also warned against practices capable of undermining the electricity market, including meter tampering, manipulation of consumption data and interference with power infrastructure.
The investigation involves key players in the electricity value chain, including NISO, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, Ikeja Electric and Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, alongside industrial customers operating within the corridor.
The development is significant because the Ikorodu–Sagamu axis has become an important industrial centre, with large manufacturing companies depending heavily on electricity supplied through the network. Ensuring that electricity delivered to such customers is accurately measured and billed is essential to the financial sustainability of the power market.
NISO had previously raised concerns about electricity theft and metering irregularities along the corridor, prompting calls for stricter monitoring and enforcement.
The latest probe is expected to identify the source of the discrepancies and recommend corrective measures.
The government’s intervention comes amid broader efforts to reduce commercial losses in Nigeria’s electricity sector, improve revenue collection and ensure that consumers are held accountable for the electricity they use.
